#metoo

The sexual harassment scandals have first begun to come to the light in the film industry. The outrages were sparked off by situations some of which I believe provoked by young women intent on making quick careers. You could argue who should take moral responsibility for incidences of harassment speeding up career advancements. I believe it all boils down to sexuality of humans which cannot be muffled nor circumvented. Regardless of the guilt (although I lean towards blaming the “system”), the issue has become an issue of critical importance and another brick in the wall of political correctness. It has also spilled over corporations, many of which have put into effect schemes and code of practices (sometimes absurd and at the end of the day having the opposite effect) which prevent such situations.

A few months ago I had an online training on violence and sexual harassment at workplace. My female and male workmates have unanimously mocked at it, coming to a conclusion we have repeatedly been both victims and perpetrators of sexual harassment. Under the definition paying your workmate a compliment that their outfit suits them well already falls under sexual harassment. A proposal to go to kitchen to drink coffee together or to go together for a lunch out also might make you a criminal. Or let your workmate sue a corporation and wheedle out money.

My scepticism towards #metoo does not mean I embrace various forms of overstepping boundaries at work. I believe however some behaviours might be acceptable:

- obvious ones, as eating or drinking coffee together, travelling in a lift or sitting in a room without glass walls and other persons assisting you,

- ambiguous jokes or another form of humour not aimed at any specific person, albeit my good practice is to hold back from really bawdy jokes when women are around,

- soft flirting confined to paying compliments.

What is unacceptable then:

- any form deemed acceptable above if a specific person affected it has expressed their wish to cease it or finds it unacceptable,

- lewd humour aimed at specific person (although there are people, like me, who find it acceptable as long as everybody knows there are just jokes)

- explicit proposals,

- touching, groping and other forms of physical contact.

I also recommend an article from Financial Times which puts the matter in a well-balanced perspective.

Stringent rules and fear of being accused of harassment or assault have also the other side of the coin. They hamper starting up relationships (out of such fear) at workplace which at some age is the main opportunity to meet new people and spend more time with them (needless to say relationships on superior – subordinates line or between units where conflicts of interest may appear are not desirable). Unless you want to install Tinder… Yet the dating application offers the muck many of us, including me, do not fit in…